Apple picker Many people approach MacBooks in a very similar way. They buy an iPhone, they are very satisfied, so they decide to try a MacBook as well. This story we hear it in the MacBook store very often. However, this is a step into the unknown. Will the new operating system suit me? Does it support the programs I use? Will I learn to work with the system quickly? These and many other doubts can significantly erode the willingness to invest in a new MacBook.
It is a considerable sum, that is clear. But you pay for quality, and it goes double with Apple. So whether we are bound by concerns about the investment or the budget itself, many clients choose the simplest solution, and that is it buying second-hand MacBooks. This article, which will focus on older 13-inch MacBook Pros without a Retina display, is about which one to choose, and is mainly intended for the likes. Above all, we want to explain the basic points that can help you make a decision.
13-inch MacBook Pro without Retina (Mid 2009)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (Frequency 2,26 GHz and 2,53 GHz).
The Core 2 Duo processor is now an older type of processor. As the name suggests, this is a dual-core processor. Both offered variants are still very good enough for vector and bitmap graphics editors, music programs and the like. The disadvantage of the processor is mainly in higher energy consumption and lower efficiency compared to processors of the Core i series. MacBooks equipped with this processor therefore offer shorter battery life.
Grafic card: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256MB.
The 2009 MacBook is the penultimate model with a dedicated graphics card. It has its own processor (GPU), but shares memory (VRAM) with the system. It offers higher performance than the integrated graphics cards in the 2011 model. The downside is that the dedicated graphics card consumes much more power, thus again shortening the MacBook's battery life.
RAM: Standard 2 GB for the 2,26 GHz model and 4 GB for the 2,53 GHz model.
You can only buy this model second-hand, so 99% of them are already upgraded to 4GB RAM. In total, it can be increased up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM at a frequency of 1066Mhz.
Battery life: Apple lists 7 hours. At work, however, it is realistically 3 to 5 hours. Of course, a lot depends on how demanding the job is.
Further: CD/DVD ROM, 2× USB (2.0), DisplayPort, FireWire, Lan, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (2.1), card reader, headphone port, audio input.
Weight: 2040 grams
Dimensions: 2,41 x 32,5 x 22,7 cm
Differences between versions: Both versions of MacBooks sold are mid-2009 versions, so the difference is only in processor performance.
In conclusion: Despite the fact that it is already an aging device, it still finds its use mainly for less demanding users. It handles vector and bitmap graphic editors, music editing programs, office work and much more. All new OS X can still be installed on it, including 10.11 El Capitan. However, it should be kept in mind that this is a MacBook from the lower range of MacBook Pros. It therefore already has its shortcomings and limitations. It is very difficult to find it in a really nice condition, and in addition, they are often refurbished.
Price: 11 to 000 thousand depending on RAM size, HDD and chassis condition.
13-inch MacBook Pro without Retina (Mid 2010)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (Frequency 2,4 GHz and 2,66 GHz).
The processors in the mid-2010 MacBook Pro are identical to the ones in the 2009 models - dual-core 64-bit Penryn cores manufactured using 45nm technology. So the same pros and cons apply.
Grafic card: NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256MB.
The 2010 model was the last model with a dedicated graphics card. The GeForce 320M has its own graphics processor (GPU) clocked at 450 MHz, 48 pixel shader cores and a 128-bit bus. It shares 256MB of memory (Vram) with the system. At first glance, these are modest parameters, but since the 13-inch MacBook Pros from the following years only have integrated graphics cards, this MacBook will offer the same graphics performance as Intel Iris with 1536MB, which is only from 2014. This MacBook so even though it is 6 years old, it is still very well suited for working with video and less demanding graphics.
RAM: Both models came standard with 4GB of DDR3 RAM (1066MHz).
Apple officially states that it is possible to upgrade to 8GB of RAM - but in reality it is possible to install up to 16GB of 1066MHz RAM.
Battery life: Battery life has been slightly improved on this model. So it lasts about 5 hours. However, Apple claims up to 10 hours.
Further: CD/DVD ROM, 2× USB (2.0), DisplayPort, FireWire, Lan, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (2.1), card reader, headphone port, audio input.
Weight: 2040 grams
Dimensions: 2,41 x 32,5 x 22,7 cm
Differences between versions: Both versions of the MacBooks sold are versions from mid-2010. The difference is therefore only in the performance of the processor.
In conclusion: The 2010 MacBook Pro provides slightly better battery life than the previous model. At the same time, it offers really good graphics performance by the standards of 13-inch MacBooks. It is therefore a good choice mainly for those who process SD and HD video and have a limited budget. It can also handle some older games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and the like.
Price: 13 to 000 crowns depending on the size and type of HDD and RAM memory.
13-inch MacBook Pro without Retina (early and late 2011)
Processor: Intel Core i5 (Frequency 2,3 GHz and 2,4 GHz), CTO version i7 (Frequency 2,7 GHz and 2,8 GHz)
The first MacBook with a modern range of Core i processors. These are already manufactured with improved technology. The old Penryn 45nm core replaces the new Sandy Bridge core, which is made with 32nm technology. Thanks to this, far more transistors fit on the same surface and the processor thus achieves greater performance. The processor also supports Turbo Boost 2.0, which allows you to drastically increase the clock speed of the processor when you need more performance (for example, the weakest 2,3 GHz processor can be overclocked up to 2,9 GHz).
Grafic card: Intel HD 3000 384MB, can be increased up to 512MB.
This is an integrated graphics card. Its graphics core is part of the processor, and VRAM is shared with the system. You can connect a second monitor with a resolution of up to 2560 × 1600 pixels, which was also possible with previous models. The performance of the graphics card is not excellent. The indisputable advantage, however, is far less energy consumption. VRAM size is governed by RAM size. So if you increase the RAM to 8GB, the card should have 512MB of VRAM. Overall, however, it does not affect the performance of the graphics card in any way.
RAM: Both models came with 4GB of 1333MHz RAM.
Apple states that the MacBook can be upgraded to a maximum of 8GB of RAM. In fact, it can be upgraded up to 16GB.
Battery life: Apple says up to 7 hours. The real endurance of the model is actually around 6 hours, which is not so far from the truth.
Weight: 2040 grams
Dimensions: 2,41 x 32,5 x 22,7 cm
Further: CD/DVD ROM, 2× USB (2.0), Thunderbolt, FireWire, Lan, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (2.1), card reader, headphone port, audio input.
As the first MacBook model, it offers a Thunderbolt port, which, compared to DisplayPort, provides the possibility to connect more devices in series. In addition, it can transfer data in both directions, at a speed of up to 10 Gbit/s. It is also the first model to support the connection of disks via SATA II (6Gb/s).
Differences between versions: Between the version from the beginning and the end of 2011, the difference is again only in the frequency of the processor. Another difference was the size of the hard drive, but due to the possibility of an easy and cheap upgrade, you can often get these pieces with a completely different drive. This also applies to the previous years 2009 and 2010.
In conclusion: MacBook Pro 2011 is, in my opinion, the first MacBook that can be used fully for work with sound and graphic editors without having to limit the speed of the machine. Despite the lower graphics performance, it is more than enough for CAD, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Logic Pro X and others. It will not offend a more modest musician, graphic designer or web developer.
13-inch MacBook Pro without Retina (Mid 2012)
Processor: Intel Core i5 (Frequency 2,5 GHz), for CTO models i7 (Frequency 2,9 Ghz).
The previous Sandy Bridge core was replaced by the improved Ivy Bridge type. This processor is manufactured with 22nm technology, so it again has more performance with the same dimensions (actually by about 5%). It also produces significantly less waste heat (TDP). The new core also brings an improved graphics chip, USB 3.0, PCIe, improved DDR3 support, 4K video support, etc.
Grafic card: Intel HD 4000 1536MB.
At first glance, most users are fascinated by the size of VRAM. But as we mentioned earlier, this parameter does not say anything about the performance of the graphics card. It's very easy to verify - on OS X Yosemite, this graphics card has 1024 MB of VRAM. On El Capitan, the same card already has 1536 MB. However, its performance remains the same. However, thanks to up to 16 pixel shaders (the 2011 model has only 12), it provides up to three times the graphics performance. It is thus already a full-fledged machine for processing HD video. It also supports Direct X 11 and Open GL 3.1.
RAM: 4GB 1600MHz
It can be increased up to 16GB RAM with a frequency of 1600MHz.
Further: CD/DVD ROM, 2× USB (3.0), Thunderbolt, FireWire, Lan, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (4.0), card reader, headphone port, audio input, webcam (720p).
The biggest change here is USB 3.0, which is up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0.
Battery life: Apple says up to 7 hours. The reality is again around 6 o'clock.
Weight: 2060 grams
Dimensions: 2,41 x 32,5 x 22,7 cm
Differences between versions: It was only the mid-2012 version.
Conclusion: The 2012 MacBook Pro is the last before the Retina screen. It is thus the last of the series of easily and inexpensively upgradeable MacBooks. Whether upgrading the drive, replacing it with an SSD or upgrading RAM, you can buy everything for a few crowns and if you keep a screwdriver in your hand, you can replace it without any problems. Changing the battery is not a problem either. The MacBook thus offers a great service life well into the future. Some stores still offer it for more than 30 crowns.
Price: It can be found for around 20 crowns.
Why we don't talk about discs: The drives differ only in capacity for the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro models. Otherwise, without exception, they were SATA (3Gb/s) and SATA II (6Gb/s) disks with dimensions of 2,5″ and 5400 rpm.
Overall, it can be said that 13-inch MacBook Pros without Retina are mainly suitable for musicians, DJs, CAD designers, web designers, web developers, etc. due to their weaker graphics performance.
All described MacBooks have one enormous advantage over the following years, which are already equipped with a Retina screen. This advantage is a cheap upgrade. For example, you can buy 16GB of RAM from around 1 crowns, a 600TB hard drive for around 1 crowns and a 1GB SSD for around 800 crowns.
Retina display models have RAM powered hard on board and are therefore not upgradeable. I'm going to upgrade the discs in the Retina models, but if you don't buy an OWC disc, but an original Apple one, it will easily cost 28 crowns. And that's a really big difference compared to 000 thousand (although PCIe drives are faster than SATA II).
Another great option is to remove the now little-used optical drive and replace it with a frame with a second disk (either HDD or SSD). As the last big advantage of the older Pro models, I would point out the easy battery replacement. In Retina screen models, the batteries are already glued to the touchpad and keyboard, making replacement difficult. Although not impossible, those who know how to do it usually ask for one to two thousand crowns for the exchange. Replacing the battery directly at Apple will then cost approximately 6 crowns.
Overall, these are excellent machines with a very affordable price, which still have many years of life ahead of them and there is no need to be afraid to invest in them. But it is necessary to keep in mind that this is a lower to lower middle class of MacBooks, so a pinch of patience will be needed at times.
I already wrote somewhere that I had a 17″ macbook for late 2011,13, 11″ and 15″ macbook air, 2015″ retina 13 and after all these great things that I always sold, I finally did exactly what you write here. A month ago I bought a 2012 ″ macbook pro mid 16, immediately upgraded to 500gb ram and 1gb SSD, somewhere on the net I bought 10 copy of Win 2,3,4 PRO to spend my free time with battlefield 13, (also hardline one as such on the minimum). as if I somehow put all the previous models together and somehow chose a little bit from each one. And so I have a 17" machine with favorite elements from the 17" which were the side green LEDs (battery indicator), the front flashing LED, the keyboard and the trackpad everywhere all the same, ram and ssd are good, cd-rom will come in handy, I'll take a shot anyway, great notes that I just love! ;) every model was great, but I was always looking for something new, no matter what, 11″ was too big, XNUMX″ was too small, and finally I went back a few years ago and I highly recommend this model for myself, and after all years old, I am completely satisfied.
Is it really worth promoting this store?
I have a question please. which 16GB of RAM and from which manufacturer can I slide into:
MacBook Pro 13 mid 2010
2,4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
8GB 1067MHz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256MB
at the back, the max for this model is 8G
OWC company, here is the link https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/8566DDR3S16P/
I have it on my Mac and it works great
I don't know about others, but I have had good experiences with AppleTRH.cz
I am especially glad that they have a normal branch in Prague.